26 POLYTRICHUM. 



should have gladly adopted were there not a prior claim t<v 

 that of P. septentrionale. We are surprised that Mohr 

 should say of P. sexangulare, " optimi juris species, facile 

 dignoscenda," since it so precisely agrees with specimens 

 that we have received from Swartz himself. We must how- 

 ever declare, that neither the figures of Swartz nor of Mea- 

 zies give a just idea of the leaves. 



f f Leaves serrated, their margins plane. 



6. P. commune^ stems elongated ; leavespatent, lineari -subu- 

 late, their margins plane, serrated as well as the points of 

 the keels ; capsule erect, ovate, quadrangular with an evi- 

 dent apophysis. (TAB. X.) 



. yucccefolium j stems a span and more in height ; leaves with their 

 margins of the same colour j capsule acutely quadrangular, its apo- 

 physis veiy distinct. 



P. commune. Linn. Sp. PL p. 1573. Hedw. Sp. Muse. Menzies in 

 Linn. Trans. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 80. Engl. Bot. t. 1197. P. ynccae- 

 folium. Ehrh. Mohr.Moug.et Nestl.n.4\5. Dill. Must. t.54.f. \1 



@>. attenuatum j stems three or four inches in height ; leaves shorter, 

 their margins pellucid j capsule obtusely quadrangular j apophysis in- 

 distinct. 



P. attenuatum. Menzies in Linn. Trans, v. 4. t. 6.f. 2. Turn. Muse. 

 Hib. p. 84. Engl. Bot. t. 1198. P. formosum. Hedw. Sp. Muse. t. 19 

 /. 1. Mohr.JVahLMoug. et Nestl, n. 416. P. gracile. Menzies in 

 Linn. Trans, v. 4. t. 6./. 3. Turn. Muse. Hib. p. 85. Engl Bot. t. 1 827. 

 JMohr. P. longisetum. Swartz Muse. Suec. t. S.f. 16. P. uurantia- 

 cum. Hoppe. Wahl. 



HAB. Heaths, in dry and wet places, varying much in 

 height according to situation. 



After an attentive examination of the above synonyms and 

 specimens, received in most instances from their respective 

 authors, we cannot but consider them all to belong to the 

 same species; and indeed that as varieties there are only 

 two worthy of particular attention. In all, the stems are 

 simple, or only branched very low down and among the roots. 

 Our var. a. is found from a span to a foot in height, with 

 the leaves very patent, often recurved, long and narrow, 

 their margins scarcely at all diaphanous ; the capsule is 

 sharply quadrangular, the apophysis very distinct. In 3. 

 the stems do not often exceed three or four inches; the leaves, 

 are rather less patent than in a., and of a shorter and broader 

 figure, with their margins whitish and diaphanous; the cap- 

 sule is obsoletely quadrangular, and the apophysis indistinct. 

 In both, the leaves are equally decidedly serrated. 



With regard to the P. gracile 3 Mr. Menzies was inclined 



